The toiler. (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, October 23, 1920, Image 12

Image and text provided by Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, OH

PAGE 12THE TOILEKSATURDAY, OCT. 23rd, 1920A Story That Does Not RhymeBy H. N. Garner.In a capitalist daily paper I read these headlines: OPERATORS TO TRY TO BREAK MINERSSTRIKE.Many Men Recruited From Rubber Plants ToTake Places of Strikers.Then the articles goes on to say that onehundred and twenty-five men, recruited from thefactories of Akron and other points in Ohio havearrived in West Virginia to be used as strikebreakers. It is thought (the article states) themoners will use every effort to keep the strikebreakers out; but the authorities are taking nochances and increased numbers of troops have beenplaced about the railroad station and other dangerpoints.Strikers Live In Tents.The article states that 107 men, women and-children are housed in tents, and preparations arebeing made to put floors of boards in the tentsto be prepared to carry the strike into the winter.Food is being cooked on stoves made of rocks andmud. None of the children wear more than onegarment. Men and women are shabby, food issocarce and of poor qualityHigh up on the bluffs (The article continues)across the river are the W. S. Leckie collieries,working under normal capacity because of thelabor shortage. Around the mines are emptyhouses, comportable dwellings. The company storesare stocked with food and clothing, and awaitingthe strikers are jobs which, according to mineoperators, would pay each man an average of threehundred dollars per month. In the face of this theminers refuse to go to work and they freely givetheir reason. It is a desire to affiliate with brother coal miners throughout the country.Now you have read the tosses' story, thestory that does not rhyme. What do you think ofit?Let's look it over again. The big rubberplants in Akron laid off thousands of workers illan effort to reduce wages. The workers cannotlive on the wage.; they could get by going back.They are probably hungry ; most all workers wouldbe if out of work for a few weeks. 125 men aregoing to the coal fields of West Virginia. I doubtif they know they are to be used as strike-breakers;but it's a safe bet, once they arrive in thestrike zone, there will be no escape for them except at the risk of their lives.Troops To Protect ScabsMiners will use every effort to keep strikebreakers away. And why not? Increased troopshave been placed around the station and otherpoints. Troops are soldiers used to protect strikebreakers. Oh, yes! the same soldiers who enlistedto protect "the flag of freedom" now used to protect those who scab on the workers who arestriking for freedom and justice.One hundred men, women and children arenow housed in tents and preparing to live, orrather stay in tents up into the winter. Think oflittb children staying in tents, wearing only onegarment in cold winter weather. Good jobs awaiting these men which would pay three hundreddollars a month what a joke! How many of youwere ever in a coal mining district? I have been,not in the district dealt with in this article, butelsewhere, and conditions and wages are prettymuch the same, except where miners are organized strong enough to force better conditions.How The Miners Live.Taking the year around the miner makeswhat could hardly be called an existence, muchless a living. Moreover here is another placewhere the story does not rhyme. Think this over:If the miner makes 300 dollars a month we allknow his children would have more than onegarment to wear. He hasn't been on strike so longthat his children would have worn out all theirclothes. He would have some household goods,stoves at least. What do you think, good comfortable company houses how many of youhave ever seen a company house in a miningcamp? If you never saw one, then just imagine a farmer's cow shed after it gets to leakingso badly that he does not keep the cow in itany longer, and you have a pretty good picture ofa company house. They stand on legs on a hill-